An introductory text-book of logic - Mellone, Sydney - Rare Books at ...

AND THE LAWS OF THOUGHT. 25
is not and cannot be the private possession of any one
mind. But so far, we have grasped only one aspect, so
to speak, of the meaning. It is not only identical in
meaning for each individual mind and identical in mean
ing for different minds ; it is also the thought of the
same object, whoever may think it ; in other words, it
always means the same thing. Thus when I speak of
"the
"the British earth,"
Constitution," "English
"
writers on A Logic,"
library," &c., &c., in each
case I refer to something real which I am thinking
about, but which continues to be what it is and mean
what it means whether I am thinking about it or not ;
and I intend the same reference to be understood
whenever I use the words. For this reason, the log
ical term has also been described as an
"
identical
reference."
In the case of common terms, the identical reference
is to the common qualities of the objects to which the
name is applicable. Common terms signify a universal
which is formed usually by comparison ; and the general
idea of the points in which the things resemble one an
other is fixed by the common term. Consider, for ex
ample, the two well-known heavenly bodies called Jupiter
and Sirius.
"
Bringing them into comparison, I observe
that they agree in being small, bright, shining bodies
which rise and set and move round the heavens with
apparently equal speed. By minute examination, how
ever, I notice that Sirius gives a twinkling or intermittent
light, whereas Jupiter shines steadily. More prolonged
observation shows that Jupiter and Sirius do not really
move with equal and regular speed, but that the former
changes its position upon the heavens from night to
night in no very simple manner. If the comparison be
extended to others of the heavenly bodies, I shall find